Centrifugal machine



Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,502

' T. A. BRYSON- CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed J ne 1 1920 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1" Fig.1.

Jan. 22, 1924.

T. A. BRYSON CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed June 12, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I H HHHI 1M I HM l/VVENTUR A770 NEV Patented Jan. 22, 1924..

um'rso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TANDY A. BRYSON, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 TOLHURST HACEENE WORKS, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

omwmruoax. macnmn.

Application filed June 12, 1920. Serial No. 388,658.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TANDY A. BRYSQN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Ma- ,chines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to centrifugal machines and more especially to novel means and devices in the machinedesigned to com-- pensate for, or take care of, an unbalanced whirling or rotating load, and the objectionable or harmful vibrations which arise or are set up in the machine.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forthin part hereinafter and in art will' be obvious herefrom, or may be earned by practice with the invention; the

same being realized and attained by means ing the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through an over-driven or suspended centrifugal machine embodyin the invention.

In loading t e baskets of centrifugal 4e machines, it is customary or at least common to put in an unbalanced load. The machines are,ftherefore, usually constructed with more or, less eflicient means for taking care of such an unbalanced load durin the rotation or whirling of the loaded mac iine to efij'ect the drying or separating action. When centrifugal machines are equipped totake care of an unbalanced load, the time which otherwise would be spent in trimming the loadis saved.

When a centrifugal basket which is loaded so that it is out-of balance (that is, the mass orweight of the load is not symmetrically disposed around the basket 'spindle or shaft) is rotated, the basket tends to rotate about an axis through its center of mass as so loaded, and this axis does not coincide with the geometrical axis of the machine, which latter axis coincides with the axis of the basket shaft. There is thus lmparted to the basket and its shaft a vertical angular oscillation or gyratory motion.

. If the basket shaft or spindle were mounted in a rigid bearing, the basket could be compelled or constrained to rotate about its geometrical axis, but this is mechanically impracticable asit would result in excessive strain and wear in the bearings and shaft, and breakage of these and cooperating parts would or might result.

' In designing and building centrifugals adapted to take unbalanced loads, therefore,

the spindle or shaft is supported or jour-' naled so that the basket may rotate about or] near to the mass axis of the basket and its unbalanced load. 'Such a bearing permits the unbalanced rotating basket to depart from its geometrical center of rotation, and at the same time inte oses a yielding or resilient resistance to t e basket and shaft assuming fully or actually the path of rotation or gyrati'on about the center of mass of the unbalanced load. Such a bearing is constructed and designed to maintain the basket shaft or spindle in an intermediate path or position between the one it would of itself assume due to the unbalanced load and ,the running. A resilient hearing or hearing material, such as is employed for the purpose described, when deflected under the action of a force, tends to return to the normal or undeflected position. If a force be repeatedly and alternately applied to and removed from such a hearing or material, that is, if the path or ,position of balanced force be intermittently and especially periodically applied to the material, vibrations are set up 1n the mechanism, which are disturbing and harmful and which may prove destructive. continue until dampened out or absorbed by These vibrations will while at the same time restraining,

internal friction or equivalent resistance in the resilient body itself, or by friction in external bodies which confine or are vibrated by the resilient body.

Structures or organizations of mechanical. parts or elements including such resilient members have a natural eriod ar frequency of ,vibration, such period or frequency being' dependent upon the masses involved, the degree of resilience present and the degree or amount of restraint imposed. If such a structure or organization be subjected to impulses applied with a frequency comparable with the natural frequency just referred to, the etfectwill be cumulative, and may cause vibrations of increasing force or amplitude until the amount of movement becomes excessive, harmful and possibly destructive.

Centrifugal machines are subjected durin rotation to isochronous impulses due to unialance of load, the repeated impact from belt lacings, and from other causes, and the frequency of these external changes, especially during acceleration. It frequently happens that for a considerable period of time these external impulses will synchronize with the natural time or period of vibration of the structure or machine, causing the vibrations to build up and the machine to sail.

The present invention providesa centrifu al machine adapted for unbalanced loads, wherein the basket spindle or shaft is flexibly or resiliently mounted so as to yield to,

the tendency of. the machine to rotate about its center of mass, andin conjunction and cooperation therewith providing frictionally operating vibration absorbing devices, which eliminate the cumulative effect-of the vibrations without materially decreasing or limiting the flexible or resilient action of the mounting.

The invention provides a regulating or governing device of the kind referred to wherein the weight of the basket and load are carried upon a plurality of superposed contacting friction plates, relatively movable with respect to each other, one plate or' set of plates movingiwith the basket shaft when it oscillates vertically due to unbalanced load, the plates not so moving oflering-frictional resistance or retardation to the moving plates, and thereby to the shaft, basket and load, the frictional pressure on the plates being created'or effected by supporting the shaft, basket and load.

As embodied, and in accordance with certain features of the invention, a resilient bearing or bearing member is employed 'and cooperating therewith friction inembers or parts, such as just described, cooperating together, certain of which move more or less with the bearing while others thereof are stationary. These members or part are impulses Further in detail, as embodied, a hollow cylindrical resilient member is located within an outer casing and surrounds the basket shaft housing, and above and below this resilient member are a plurality of alternate contacting annular friction plates or discs, one disc fitting the housing and having clearance between it and the external casing and a contacting disc fitting the outer casing and having clearance about the housing.

The outer casing and the housing have horizontal flanges, and the weight of the basket, spindle and load is transmitted down from the flange of the bearing housing through both the top and bottom series of friction plates and the resilient member to the inwardly projecting flange of the outer casing, which casing is supported on the machine frame. Angular motion of the axis of the bearing housing (the center of which will be about mid-height of the resilient member), due for instance to unbalanced basket load, causes the friction plates or discs to slide over each other, thereby developing the necessary friction to control the gyratory action and to absorb the vibrations.

Referring now to-the structural details of the present preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in Fig. 1, the invention is shown applied to the under-driven type of centrifugal machines.

Therein the outer casing 1 of the centrifugal is carried on a pedestal or frame 2, and is provided with an inwardly extending top flange 3 and one or more bottom outlets 4, although the casing may be of any suitable form so far as concerns the present invention.

The basket 5 as shown comprises the cyshaft in a suitable manner as by a clamping. screw 12. The driving belt runs over a pulley 13, and a suitable belt shifter, brake and other appliances or fixtures may be added in tions arising out of un alanced' loading of the basket as already described. As embodied the spindle or shaft 9 is journaled m a housing 15, by any suitable structure or arrangement of parts. I

Surrounding housin 15 is a resilient bearing member 20, w ichis preferably a hollow cylinder of rubber, or other suitablematerial, embracing or surrounding and referably closely fittlng the housing 15. Vhen the basket and spindle gyrate, that is, when they have vertical angular motion, the central or axial point of such motion will be located about mid height of the re silient member 20,,the member 20 yielding to such movement while at the same time yieldingly resistin it and tending to return the shaft to simpfiy or solely its own axial rotation, without any additional or modifying motion.'

The resilient member 20 is contained and preferably closely fitted within a casing 21, which casing is preferably formed on or attached to the machine frame, being shown bolted to the foot of pedestal 2. Y

The cooperating friction devices comrise sets of contacting, relatively movable riction members deriving their frictional action 'Whollyor in part from carrying the Wei ht of shaft 9, basket 5 and the basket 10a Preferably there is a set of thefriction devices above and another below the resilient member 20.

As embodied, a 'lurality of horizontally disposed, flat annu ar plates, preferably of non-resilient material, lie in superposition and in contact one with another, one set above and one below the member 20. A

plate 22 has its external periphery substantially fitting easily the interior of casing 21,

so that it is in ,fixed position horizontally within the casing, but having clearance about the housing which it encircles.

. is likeplate 22 is shown between plate 23 and-the member 20.

On the bottom side of resilient member 20, as embodied, is another set ofplates,

plates 25 and 27 being like plate 23, and plate 26 being like plates 22 and 24., and 0pcrating in the same manner. One set of the plates is one side the center of gyration or vertical angular movement of shaft 9. and

. supported from beams 30.

the other set of plates is on the other ide of .that center, and thus cooperates to ampen and absorb any objectionable or harmful non-rotary motion of the basket shaft 9,

the basket and load.

The weight of the basket 5, of its load,

and of its spindle or sh'aft'l), is laid on the parts just described, and for this purpose as embodied, a flange 28 is formed at the top of the housing-15 and rests upon the to friction plate 22. The, bottom; plate 2 rests upon an internal flange or step 29 formed within the casing 20- and providing clearance about the housing 15; There is thus its shaft or spindle. 37,- Shaft 37 at its upper end is provided wlth a housing, numbered 15 to correspond to the same part in the description of the under driven machine already given. The corresponding parts of the means for governing and damping the non-rotary movements of the shaft have the same reference numerals applied thereto as in Fig. 1 which shows the under-driven machine, and repetition of the description is unnecessary, In this machine casing 21, is

Exhaustive and extensive tests under varying actual working conditions have demonstrated a construction acgording to this invention to be capable of carrying much more unbalanced load with complete safety and freedom from wide whipping or sailing of the spindle and its load, and at the same time it eliminates much of the short and jerky vibrations common in the usual type or constructions of such machines.

The resilientmember in this construction need not be placed upon fixed and permanent mechanical pressure and constriction as is common in prior constructions. This reduces the rigidity and consequent bearing wear, power consumption "and cost (if parts and assembly and rubber deterioration. In the old types the rubber is so heavily compressed that it is driven into screw-threads and into all openings and joints until it is or experience, the vibrations may be dampened to eliminate their cumulative effect and the sailing of the basket without substantially decreasing the full and desirable flexibility of the spindle mounting.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. A centrifugal machine including in combination a basket and S11 porting and rot-ating means therefor inclu ing a shaft, a housing in which the shaft is rotatably hung, a cylindrical resilient member about the housing, a casing surrounding the housing, a plurality of non-resilient annular discs within the casing, contacting together and surrounding the housing, some of the discs fitting the housing closely and having clearance with respect to the casing, and other of said discs fitting the casing and having clearance about the housingso as to be horizontally slidable one on another, there being a series of said discs above and another series below the resilient member, the housing being supported by the discs and resilient member.

2. A centrifugal extractor including in combination a basket, a shaft therefor, a.

bearing for the shaft permitting gyratory movement thereof comprising a housing in which the shaft is journaled, a resilient gyration absorbing member fitting about the housing at its center of gyration and a plurality of radially movable friction mem bers supporting the weight of the basket and shaft away from its center of gyration.

3. A centrifugal extractor including in combination a basket, a shaft therefor, a bearing for; the shaft permitting gyratory movement thereof comprising a housing in which the shaft is j ournaled, a resilient gyration absorbing member fitting about the housing at its center of gyration and a plurality of radially movable friction members supporting the weight of the basket and shaft away from its center of gyration and in turn supported by the resilient gyration absorbing member.

4. A centrifugal extractor including in combination a basket, a shaft therefor, a bearing for the shaft permitting gyratory movement thereof comprising a housing in which the shaft is journaled, a resilient gyration absorbing member fitting about the housing at its center of gyration and a plurality of flat friction discs of different diameters, alternately arranged and relatively movable with respect to one another, supporting the weight of the basket and shaft away from its center of gyration.

memos 5. A centrifugal extractor including in combination a basket, a shaft therefor, a bearing for the shaft permitting gyratory movement thereof comprising a housing in which the shaft is journaled, a resilient gyration' absorbing member fitting about the housing at its center of gyration and a plurality of basket and shaft supporting friction discs, one disc moving with the shaft and a contacting disc held against such movement.

6. A centrifugal extractor including in combination a basket, a shaft therefor, a housing in which the shaft is journaled, a member about the housing yielding resiliently radially at and immediately at each side of the center of gyration to absorb the gyratory mevement, and basket and shaft ,supportlng friction members contiguous to said yielding member and relatively movable to absorb the gyratory movement.

7. A centrifugal extractor including in combination a basket, a shaft, a casing, a resilient member fitted within the casing about the shaft against radial displacement to constitute a resilient center of gyration, a plurality of friction plates radially slidable one upon and relatively to another, a housing in which the shaft is journaled and a supporting flange carried by the housing, the flange resting-on the topmost friction plate.

8. In a centrifugal extractor, a shaft, a supporting bearing therefor comprising an annular collar of resilient material surrounding the bearing and extending above and below the center of gyration, and a plurality of relatively movable friction plates for imposing a frictional retarding force to sidewise movement of the bearing.

9. In a centrifugal extractor, a shaft, a supporting bearing therefor comprising an annular collar of resilient material surrounding .the bearing and extending above and below the center of gyration, and a plurality of alternately arranged, relatively movable friction plates of different diameters for imposing a frictional retarding force to sidewise movement of the bearing.

10. In a centrifugal extractor, a shaft, a supporting bearing therefor comprising a deformable resilient element surrounding the bearing and resistant to sidewise or gyratory movement thereof, and a plurality of alternately arranged annular friction plates of different diameters surrounding the bearing and slidable on one another whenthe shaft moves sidewise or gyrates, for. imposing a frictional retarding force to such sidewise or gyratory movement,

11. In a centrifugal extractor, a shaft, a supporting bearing therefor comprising a deformable resilient element surrounding the bearing and resistant to sidewise movement thereof, a pluralityof relatively movable friction plates above the resilient elename to this s ificatioli, in the presence ment,'and a flange carliledhyltlhe hearling of two subscri ing witnesses. and resting on the top p ate of t e p ura ity I e of friction plates, for transmitting the TANDY BRYSON' 5 weight of the shaft and associated parts Witnesses:

thereto. M. K. Bums,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my A. J. Semen. 

